Mary E. Kramer (born June 14, 1935) is an American former politician. A member of the Republican Party, she served as an Iowa State Senator from 1990 to 2003. She was elected President of the Senate in 1997, becoming the first independently elected woman to fill the post. In 2003 Kramer was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean; she was confirmed by the United States Senate and served from 2004 to 2006.
For nearly twenty years Kramer worked as a teacher and school administrator in Iowa. In 1975 she entered the corporate sector when she became the Corporate Personnel Director for Younkers, Inc. She joined Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 1981, and during her eighteen years with the company served as Vice President of Human Resources and as Vice President of Community Investments.
Political careerEdit
Kramer’s political career began in 1990 when she was first elected to the Iowa State Senate, representing Clive, Des Moines and West Des Moines. Her special interests were in education, economic development, and health care. She was elected Assistant Minority Leader in 1992 and President in 1997.[1]
Kramer has served on the Board of the Directors for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and was the Chairman of the Board for the Senate President’s Forum. She was a member of the Reforming States Group of the Milbank Fund, a group dedicated to population-wide health improvement. Additionally, she has served as a member of the Board of the Des Moines Club, the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Central Iowa, the Polk County Child Care Resource Center, Brenton Bank, and Mercy Hospital. She is also a lifetime member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in Iowa and received the Society’s highest national award in June 1996.[3] In August 2009, Kramer was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.[4]
PersonalEdit
Kramer and her late husband, Kay Kramer, married in 1958. They have a son and a daughter and four grandchildren. Kay Kramer died in November 2018.
Kramer remains active in community affairs and is currently working on a memoir of her experiences in politics.
ReferencesEdit
^Mary Kramer, Iowa General Assembly 2012-04-26 at the Wayback Machine
^. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
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Not to be confused with Mary Cramer This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Mary E Kramer news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mary E Kramer born June 14 1935 is an American former politician A member of the Republican Party she served as an Iowa State Senator from 1990 to 2003 She was elected President of the Senate in 1997 becoming the first independently elected woman to fill the post In 2003 Kramer was nominated by President George W Bush to serve as U S Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean she was confirmed by the United States Senate and served from 2004 to 2006 Mary KramerUnited States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern CaribbeanIn office March 30 2004 October 30 2006PresidentGeorge W BushPreceded byEarl Norfleet PhillipsSucceeded byMary Martin OurismanMember of the Iowa Senate from the 30th districtIn office January 2003 February 4 2004Preceded byNeal SchuererSucceeded byPat WardMember of the Iowa Senate from the 37th districtIn office January 1993 January 2003Preceded byRalph RosenbergSucceeded byDouglas ShullMember of the Iowa Senate from the 41st districtIn office January 1991 January 1993Preceded byJulia GentlemanSucceeded byJack W HesterPersonal detailsBorn 1935 06 14 June 14 1935 age 88 Burlington Iowa U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseKay KramerChildren2Alma materUniversity of IowaProfessionTeacher Politician Diplomat Contents 1 Biography 2 Political career 3 Accomplishments 4 Personal 5 ReferencesBiography EditMary Kramer was born in Burlington Iowa on June 14 1935 and grew up in Iowa City She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in piano performance and a Master of Arts degree in education also from the University of Iowa For nearly twenty years Kramer worked as a teacher and school administrator in Iowa In 1975 she entered the corporate sector when she became the Corporate Personnel Director for Younkers Inc She joined Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 1981 and during her eighteen years with the company served as Vice President of Human Resources and as Vice President of Community Investments Political career EditKramer s political career began in 1990 when she was first elected to the Iowa State Senate representing Clive Des Moines and West Des Moines Her special interests were in education economic development and health care She was elected Assistant Minority Leader in 1992 and President in 1997 1 In 2002 President George W Bush appointed Kramer Chairperson of the White House Commission for Presidential Scholars and in 2003 the President nominated her as the United States Ambassador to the Seven Island Nations of the Eastern Caribbean 2 Kramer held the latter post from 2004 until her retirement in 2006 Accomplishments EditKramer has served on the Board of the Directors for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and was the Chairman of the Board for the Senate President s Forum She was a member of the Reforming States Group of the Milbank Fund a group dedicated to population wide health improvement Additionally she has served as a member of the Board of the Des Moines Club the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce United Way of Central Iowa the Polk County Child Care Resource Center Brenton Bank and Mercy Hospital She is also a lifetime member of the Society for Human Resource Management SHRM in Iowa and received the Society s highest national award in June 1996 3 In August 2009 Kramer was inducted into the Iowa Women s Hall of Fame 4 Personal EditKramer and her late husband Kay Kramer married in 1958 They have a son and a daughter and four grandchildren Kay Kramer died in November 2018 Kramer remains active in community affairs and is currently working on a memoir of her experiences in politics References Edit Mary Kramer Iowa General Assembly Archived 2012 04 26 at the Wayback Machine Council of American Ambassadors Membership Archived from the original on 17 September 2010 Retrieved 20 August 2009 Legislators permanent dead link Mary E Kramer Iowa Commission on the Status of Women Archived from the original on 20 February 2012 Retrieved 20 August 2009 Iowa SenatePreceded byJulia Gentleman Member of the Iowa Senatefrom the 41st district1991 1993 Succeeded byJack W HesterPreceded byRalph Rosenberg Member of the Iowa Senatefrom the 37th district1993 2003 Succeeded byDouglas ShullPreceded byNeal Schuerer Member of the Iowa Senatefrom the 30th district2003 2004 Succeeded byPat WardDiplomatic postsPreceded byEarl Norfleet Phillips United States Ambassador to Barbados2004 2006 Succeeded byMary Martin OurismanUnited States Ambassador to Dominica2004 2006United States Ambassador to Saint Lucia2004 2006United States Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2004 2006United States Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda2004 2006United States Ambassador to Grenada2004 2006United States Ambassador to Saint Kitts and Nevis2004 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary E Kramer amp oldid 1170049532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,